TNS 2 Bala Town 1
TEN man Saints recovered from their European exit to take all three points from their Welsh Premier clash with Bala Town.
Alex Darlington's late goal with eight minutes remaining ensured the Saints maintained their unbeaten start to the Welsh Premier.
Chris Sharp had given The Saints an early lead, but former Wrexham ace Mark Jones levelled for the visitors.
Sharp went from hero to villain after seeing red in the second-half.
Substitute Darlington seized his chance to make an impact on the game after Matty Williams and Phil Baker were both forced off with injuries.
The Saints took a seventh minute lead through Sharp who got a second bite at the cherry after Chris Seargeant sent over a dangerous cross which Craig Jones turned back in.
Seargeant came close to extending their lead after beating his man on the edge of the area, and forcing a smart save from Craig Vernon in the visitors’ goal.
Bala regrouped and came close to an equaliser when Neil Fisher tested Paul Harrison from a narrow angle, and Ross Jeffries saw his effort cleared off the line by Phil Baker.
The warning signs went unheeded when Mark Jones found yards of space to smash home Gethin Lloyd's corner via the crossbar to draw level on 23 minutes.
Craig Jones and Sharp both had chances to put Saints back in front but Sharp’s afternoon ended shortly after the break when his dissent earned him a straight red card.
TNS’ return to domestic action continued to be blighted with defender Phil Baker stretchered off on the hour following a heavy fall, but still the 10 men pressed.
Darlington headed over, but atoned on 82 minutes with a close range header after Jones delivered a left-wing cross.